Percy Stevens, Director of Travel Trade for Sonoma County Tourism visited the UK for a sales mission in April 2024. Here, we look back on some key speaking points and memorable events from another very successful week.
Sonoma County's inclusion in Travel + Leisure's 'Best Places to Travel in 2024' was a timely one, as we hit the road across London and the south east, sharing product updates and talking to trade partners about why this is such a great time for global travellers to be visiting this unique and diverse part of Northern California.
Key updates from a lodgings perspective included Santa Rosa's mid-century modern Flamingo Resort (below) now being available through Bonotel, the stunning reinvention of Guerneville's Dawn Ranch, and boutique properties The Madrona and The Stavrand being contracted by Tourmappers; and therefore now available to many of our trade partners.
Sonoma County has always been blessed with unique, independent hotel product - that's very much part of the destination's charm - but there's more available now, particularly towards and on the coast, than ever before.
Of course, Sonoma County's culinary offerings are never far from from the fore in these conversations, and we enjoyed sharing some invaluable hints and tips about how visitors to the destination can dine like a king, regardless of budget. Whether's it's a 10-course three Michelin-starred dining experience at world-renowned SingleThread or a humble taco from a taco truck, the farm-to-table ethos runs deep in the destination's DNA.
Following our own last visit to Sonoma County in 2023, we still tell anyone who'll listen about the shrimp roll and clam chowder at Spud Point Crab Co. in Bodega Bay, which celebrates its 20th year this year, and probably the most authentic Mexican we've had (outside of Mexico), which was at El Molino Central in Sonoma. Both are unmissable, so well worth mentioning to any clients visiting the destination.
There is, of course, only so much you can talk about food, before getting hungry. So, as the main event for the week, we were delighted to host a group of VIP trade partners for an immersive private dining experience at Kerridge's Bar & Grill; part of London's beautiful Corinthia Hotel. Prepared by our own private chef, guests were transported to Sonoma County via an inspired three course farm-to-table menu, complete with an exceptional chardonnay from Lioco and a show-stopping pinot noir from Failla.
We didn't stop there, either. Keen to elevate the destination's reputation among frontline sales people, for them we hosted an exclusive Sonoma County wine tasting event at a delightful California and Oregon wine shop in Islington, North London. Rachel Gilbert, founder of Pacific Wines (below), took guests on a insightful and often entertaining viticultural journey around the destination, complete with some quite exquisite paired canapés.
Showcasing the full gambit of winemaking in North America's most diverse premium wine grape growing region, we sampled everything from a delicate sauvignon blanc to a big and bold cabernet sauvignon. However, the real stars of the show were a chardonnay and pinot noir; wines for which Sonoma County is most famous.
All in all, a really positive sales mission, and one where we feel we've truly shifted the dial in terms of product knowledge, awareness, and enthusiasm for a destination that continues to float just under the radar. In our opinion, unjustifiably so. Huge thanks to everyone whom we either visited on our travels, or who attended an event during the week.
You can check out more pictures from the private dining event here, and to find out what's new in Sonoma County for spring 2024, click here.
Learn more about Sonoma County at https://www.sonomacounty.com